View source for 4711/Out of the Way

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/10/23
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=O-Hiko's domain is attacked and the Izzet allies move to defend... and get help from someone they don't see..
|Cast of Characters=272, 325, 707, 711, 215, 300, 714, 19, 750, 42, 1037
|Tinyplot=34 - Moeru
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BELOW THE IZZET DISTRICT: Yokai Shanty-Town. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bordering on the Gruul lands, abutting the broken, scarred ends of sidewalk and rough, unfinished buildings was the realm of O-Hiko, Namamura's own Spider Queen, and the now unofficial guardian of its yokai. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a place where pipes that drain from the steam works provide warmth and moisture, water cascading from unintended cascades over a milieu of broken pavement chunks. Grasses and trees have been growing here, green in spite of the chill outside. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wanderers would be greeted first by the magnificent spiderwebs, from which hang all sizes of brightly colored spiders, orange and red bellies and spindly legs ranging in spread from one feet to nearly eight, and below, between roughed out avenues, there are buildings -- though that may be a generous word. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tents, temporary shelters thrown up to protect from constant rain or provide privacy. A little building appearing to act like a little shrine, and among them walk Yokai -- the spirits of Namamura, flesh and incoperal alike. A young boy with no face sits on a bench, kicking up the heels of his geta as he watches a lone, grumbling old lady made of clay and straw wander past. Above them loops a long strip of linen cloth, eyes looking dazed and listless. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And stopping through, on a single leg, is Takai, the umbrella ghost, and from his long tongue he holds a latern who is croaking "Woe, woe is me -- has anyone seen our tanuki?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While the spires of the Izzet are full of magewrights that have been allowed to stay, or are awaiting their moment with the Guildmaster, someone had to be sent out to check on the growing village of Yokai that O-Hiko seems to have inherited. Ryxinel, likely with Yu and Mi in tow, has decided to venture down to this place like her sister did. Perhaps he could set up another district like the one farther above. He had hoped the original Namamura district would be enough for all from Namamura, human and spirit alike. If that couldn't be, perhaps a second place was in order. <br><br>The red dragon ventures down in simple Izzet attire, easily called armor since most dragons can't wear normal fabrics. Mostly red, only a little blue, but nothing so gaudy as what his father would have worn. Any that draw close would receive a friendly welcome from the Red, and a question on where to find O-Hiko. He had sent out invitations to Izzet allies if they cared to join. After all, members of the Izzet League know one thing. Most often? Very -random- things happen around them..<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>After last night's conversation on the radio, Xiaomu has decided to take a look at the situation in Namamura and Ravnica. Protecting yokai and humans from each other is kind of her job, and since the situation in Wakayama doesn't need her involvement until Shinra can figure out what it's doing about that old gourd geezer, helping elseworld - and assisting the Union (and the Izzet League) in the process - seemed like a good use of her time.<br><br>That, and she managed to run down the batteries on every game system and controller she'd brought with her to the Wakayama office. The only reason her phone wasn't ALSO recharging was that Reiji forced her to uninstall the streaming apps while they were on a field assignment.<br><br>"If you don't count that they're basically living in exile here," the sage fox remarks to Ryxinel, "it's actually kinda homy ..." She wanders over to Takai, bowing politely (and letting out a little 'eek' as if she's scared. Which she isn't actually, but it's the thought that counts). "People have been looking for her," she answers. "There's a lot that's been going on up above, we were wondering if any of the answers might be hiding down here."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Corona Arclite had come by Ravnica to drop off the rest of the materials she had picked up during the lab investigations so Rhapsody and others could continue examining them. Of course the Guildmaster is really busy, so they had to be dropped off with someone else. Which is fine, she wanted to stop to see Ryxinel while she was there and check on the work for Thianel since there had been mention of an issue with misfitting parts.<br><br>So to cut a long story short, the big red pretty much just pulled her along for the trip down into the depths. Not that it makes a difference, she would of responded to the invitation anyways. She just happened to already be there.<br><br>"Kinda reminds me of some of the boom towns that go up when a new vein is discovered. But more..." the fox waves a paw as she's not entirely sure of the terminology she should use. ".. orientally."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Iria's been spending a lot of time in this area, partially due to the situation involving Yunomi, so she's in the area when the others arrive and nods to those she knows. The scowl she's got on her face isn't anything personal, it's just frustration from a lack of answers regarding Yunomi's whereabouts and what's truly happening.<br><br>Of course, with strange things happening involving supernatural stuff, Iria's really on edge. She doesn't believe that this is just some bitter coincidence, she strongly suspects this has something to do with what's been going on. Despite not being skilled with supernatural things, Iria's intent on finding out what's going on here and dealing with it! She looks to the frog and says, "I can assure you, we're gonna find her and bring her back safely!" She cracks her knuckles.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>The small team, about 8 people, dressed in various mixes of clothing and battle dress. walk down a main avenue. This hadn't been the proper place for uniforms themsleves, Stadler had decided. The people, the politics of Ravinca were, frankly, a gorey mess at the moment. Sharks circling the water, excited by the blood of people who were scared and crying out for answers and vengence and blood. And the sharks had simply promised them that. So Rick had all the paper work covered to show that he was in Maryland right this very second, and anyone shooting out here was probably some oppurtunistic mercenary unit, drawn from the greater multiverse with the promise of carnage and fortune.<br><br>It wouldn't hold up very well, but barely legally, and that was fine with Rick. If any of those Magic Eaters got in his way, he wanted that bastard to know who had killed them.<br><br>Rick, M50 mask sealed over his face, stood in the covered deck of one shanty that no one had been in for a while. The story there, of the objects around, was probably a sad one he didn't have time to deal with at the moment. Intead, he watched the streets, flicking over to a local comm band. &lt;Ernie, I don't see anything but the orindary over here. Anything you've got?&gt; The call comes back quickly. &lt;Whole lot of nothin', boss. Just the wandering spirts and those- Fuck! Sorry, sorry, nothing, just... siper the size of my chest on this wall. Jesus Christ, you sure we can't do this outside?&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> There's been many a muttering about the Izzet league and a certain tanuki over the past few weeks. Even though it might not be the sort of thing that would concern the Confederacy's assets directly, the political situation surrounding Namamura and Ravnicaand its allies can't be ignored. That's why a certain white-coat-wearing Confederate is wandering the shanty-town's streets tonight, keeping her eye open as she takes in the sights and sounds around her. There's something oddly nostalgic about it all despite the locals looking very much unlike the people she's known back at home. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alas, Sanary can't just sightsee tonight. She's got a job to do! Spotting a familiar face amid several unfamiliar and out-of-place faces, it doesn't take much even for her to put two and two together to figure out that something's going on. She tries to stay out of sight for the time being, but gives up on that about three seconds later before just approaching the group with a lazy wave. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey, Xiaomu. Something going on out here?" She glances over at... Actually, she's not sure who to even focus on. The fox? The team of agents? The dragon? The talking umbrella? "... Big party?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SUDDENLY FROM ABOVE RYXINEL: A spider drops down! Its legs are spread out wide, its fangs glistening, its eight eyes focused squarely on the dragon as it drops down on the dragon's head! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"RHAPSODDEEEEEE--eeeeee---you are not Rhapsody." Meeko halts, scant inches from touching Ryxinel's head with one of her legs, and just sort of hovers there for a moment. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The eight people walking down the main way through the shanty town are regarded... warily at best. A few yokai seem to move away. A very human looking woman turns, a cow's tail sticking out of the back of her kimono ushers a small child away. The large spider eyeballs the rather scared looking Ernie, and gives a hiss of &lt;Watch where you're stepping, asshole!&gt; and slowly trails up its web. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THe latern ghost, Chiisai, blinks a moment, pausing his wailing before Takai puts him on top of his own head, resting the long tongue. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We assuredly do not know. We have been seeking her out." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, yes!" Chiisai adds, hissing between torn paper, "we've checked every restaurant, waffle house, flop dodging, and even inquired politely at the local constibulitory station. WOE TO US!" he wails, "Has /anyone/ seen the tanuki?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>So here Maya was in the Izzet District the information from the coverstation ion the radio last night had her thinking on the matter of Yunomi even more than she was. She'd rebound Yu and the others to the park. Yunomi knew something might happen to her but why? What? She has ot figure out what's going on something is so strange here. She's come to the Yokai shanty-Town to do what she can to help and she would see there's a lot of work to be done but then comes the Yokai speaking of Yunomi in all likelyhood but what could this mean? <br><br> "I'm afraid I haven't seen her..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hearing the call for his sister, Ryxinel's gaze turns upward to regard the rapidly decending spider. "Hello, Meeko. I'm Ryxinel, her brother," he informs, hoping to disuade any concern the spiderling may have. "I had heard that many Yokai have moved down here, out of the district, and decided to visit to see if there's anything that can be done to help you all feel more comfortable. The comforts of the district were made for humans and similar, I apologize if such things were not fitting for the Yokai," he offers rather matter-of-factly. "Do you know where O-Hiko is? I wouldn't mind speaking with her to assist here further." He doesn't seem to be asking about Yunomi.. though he shares his sister's concern. It shows when his gaze shifts to take in what Chiisai and Takai are saying. "We will not give up looking for her," he tells them both.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Xiaomu straightens up, turning to look at Sanary.<br><br>This is potentially more than a little awkward. Not in the usual sense of the phrase, either - but there's a valued Unionite missing, the enemies in the scenario *aren't* known to be Confederate-aligned, and here comes a Confederate Elite who might or might not be inclined to leverage the situation to the Confederacy's advantage, or at least to the Union's *dis*advantage (which is kinda the same thing in the long view).<br><br>"Let's just say this is not necessarily the place for an unwary human to be hanging out," Xiaomu says mildly. "I suppose most of Ravnica technically counts as neutral territory, but you linger here at your own risk. I don't encourage trying to take more of a chance than you're already doing just by being here - how'd you find your way this far below the main city, anyway?"<br><br>As she's talking, Xiaomu makes her way back towards Ryxinel and the others, leaning in to whisper a question to the dragon, with a thumb jerked at Sanary in the middle of it.<br><br>Other than that, Xiaomu does nod to the yokai in agreement with Ryxinel's statement. Xiaomu may not be personally involved in the search for the tanuki - at least, so far - but she's developed a relatively pointed interest in the case.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Corona Arclite cranes her head back a bit to look at the voice speaking to Ryx from overhead. But she doesn't really have anything to add since he's already pretty much explains why they're here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br>You know Rebound has totally been here the whole time really. This whole place is a little bit on the creepy side..But these yokai, they're just as much victims from everything that's been going on, at least that's what Rebound understands about the situation at hand.<br><br>She's not extremely well versed on the situation as to why they have come down today...Honestly she just usually likes to follow Corona around since her foxy friend is great at getting into trouble and needing Rebound's special skills to help her get out of those crazy situations. So she hangs out next to Corona for now, leaning in towards her, "So why are we down here anyway?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Estano, from his perch on a second story (if you could call it that), simply stares at the spider crawling back up it web. At least he was only about to step on it with his regular foot, and not the clanky metal one that would have caused damage. And, in what must have been a small miracle, neither Estano (or his other people) let out a burst of panic fire at a large spider hissing demonically at them. The wonders of a world that translates /everything/ sentient. He's back on the radio. &lt;Boss, call me crazy, but I don't think people down here like us very much.&gt;<br><br>Stadler moves with his people, giving a slight glance to the cow-tailed woman rushing away a child. &lt;Since when do people like to see un-uniformed people walking around their streets with guns? Even if it is a boom town, no one wants to get caught in a cross fire.&gt; He says, before spying Ryxinel inquiring about a few of the demons themselves... with a friendly spider about his head. &lt;Prince is walking around his kingdom, apparantly. I want to say dragons are only fearful when it comes to legacy or heartbreak.&gt; Rick mutters over the net, before making sure to keep an eye on the red dragon. Wherever he was going was bound to be the center of action.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren is here too! For once, given they're visiting a civilian settlement and not some lab full of traps, he dares go without his armor. Time will tell if he lives to regret it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The spiders everywhere is a smidge creepy. Once he hears one talk though, he's put more at ease. The wide variety of beings here... it's comforting to see such different people getting along, and reminds him of Lazlo, even if the specific species are different.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We're still looking for her." Staren nods as Rynixel speaks.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks a bit confused and worried as the cow-lady leads a child away. Being feared is different from in Lazlo. Oh well, you can't please everyone...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Xiaomu's suspicion is understandable, at least. Sanary hasn't exactly proven herself to be concerned with the Union's well-being in the past, although she still manages a light sigh at the sage fox's reaction. "I know, I know... Just lookin' around. The comms have been pretty loud these past few days, so I figured I'd... You know. Take a look around. Find out what's going on out here." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She pauses for a moment and glances around, then sighs again while lowering her voice and slumping just a bit. "... The main city's above here you said?" That's good information to have. Not that she'll ever admit to getting lost, of course, since she was just... Scouting! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Definitely didn't get lost on the way. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "... So what's all this about a tanuki, anyway? Is that the one that jackass was whining about last night?" There's a hint of venom in her voice, but at least it's not directed towards anyone here. Chiisai's wailing draws a blank look from the healer, though, and Sanary responds with a more relaxed (and almost reassuring tone) in her voice. "Er... Hey, hey! I'm sure she'll turn up sooner or later. Just need to be patient, alright?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Someone's set up a ramen shop, far below and underneath an overhang. A cat with two tails is beckoning other yokai in, waving a paw with the pad down to greet them. Questionable meats float in bowls of noodles, alien vegetables and familiar smells. A badger is huffing his breath as he shoves past Richard Stadler, grumbling about the quality of the broth under that roof and grumpily saying back in /his/ day they had real fish and it tasted better. The long strip of linen lazily floats past the other side, towards the ramen shop and seems fascinated momentarily with the group, and then procedes upwards. and a figure in a brown hood crossing the avenue behind the retinue, giving a pause and then continuing on their business, ducking into another tent. A few children -- a one-eyed monk boy and a girl who has no feet beneath her kimono toss an inflated bladder, tied with a string, back and forth in a game... life is as usual down here for the refugees who fled not only their homeland, but their adopted home as well. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meeko blinks three of her eyes at once, and then makes a quiet 'eeee' sound, patting Ryx on the head once, and then retreats back up the thick webbing. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To the side of Richard, a woman wearing a dark red and orange kimono appears, her arms folded in front of her, hidden in the sleeves of the robe. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... why you deem it needed to come so armed, friends, I do not know." The Spider Queen greets them, seeming apprehensive. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meeko then descends from the level above. "OKASAMAAAAA~" &lt;Mother~&gt; she cries out, pausing and hovering above the spider woman. "Rhapsody's brother is here and would like to talk to you~" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The latern blinks up at the others, looking at each in turn, and then gives a soft, pensive 'hrrm', and approving 'harruuum'... and then a disappointed 'hum...' before continuing. "She does not want to be found. if she had wanted to be seen, we might have seen her. Or she could have come back and spoken to us! We miss her! She never visits us anymore and... and... and... she /forgot my birthday!/" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Chiisai. You don't have a birthday. You're a lantern." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. Yes. I remember."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A blink, then a glance is sent toward the others in the area. Weapons? He turns back to O-Hiko, "I assure you," he begins, bowing to the Yokai, "That I have brought none, myself. There are some that are unfamiliar with you and may have felt aprehensive, but if they had," He clears his throat, speaking a little more loudly, "ASKED ME," back to normal volume, "I would have assured them that weapons are not necessary,". A helpless shrug is given, "I apologize for any concern that is caused. I was visiting, simply wanting to know, if there is anything I can do, or the Izzet can do, to provide comfort for you all here. I'm sorry that the Namamura district doesn't feel safe anymore. Concern over the Guildless has risen quite a bit and once the situation with Yunomi is taken care of I assure you, we'll be looking into this.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>"Seein' if these folks need any help down here. They're kinda hidin', y'know," Corona replies to Rebound. "After what happened last time, not really blamin' 'em. either."<br><br>The fox pauses, turning her head in the other direction. Her nose isn't quite as strong as her ears, but it's still strong enough to pick up the aroma of food from the ramen shop. "Ah know just wait needs 'investigatin'." Considering she hasn't eaten since leaving Brimsteel earlier in the way.<br><br>At least being a humanoid fox she blends in well with the local crowd as Corona ambles over to the ramen stand after stepping out of the grumbling badgers way. "Hey miss! Miss..." cat with two tails? Huh. "Ah'll take a bowl, miss. Of" Her tail flicks at the 'questionable meat', 'alien vegetables' but 'familiar smell'. "Whatevah it's made outta."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>The problem with gas masks is that, while they protected you from harmful chemical and biological agents, it was hard to smell anything but filters and rubber. And From the way those people pressed in for it, that does look like it would actually be decent ramen. And probably more authentic than the trendy ramen shops that dotted Frederick's main drag, like every other small city. Stadler takes some time to pause there, eyes flickering past the various signs of life you'd see anywhere. The residents look a bit different, but a town was a town. And this one was under a certain matriarch.<br><br>Stadler keeps himself casual for a moment, inclining his head just slightly, tilting the mask's vocalizer to her. "Two reason. One, I still don't know what those fucking Magic Eaters are going to do, but I can't rule out a false flag operation." He says, before looking over at the red dragon as he walks over. "And second, I don't go anywhere without a gun. People with the purest spirit and nobliest intentions are the same as pyschopaths... in certain situations." He says. He carries in hospitals for a reason. "And I do not know you but by reputation, sir. I'm just a simple mercenary that came down here, seeking fortune and action and all of that. I've all the documentation to prove it." He says. The tone of his voice indicates that he knows no one here beleives that.<br><br>All right. Stadler disliked large spiders, just like the rest of them, but Meeko dropping to mother... well, that was adorable."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>"Kind of a long story," Xiaomu asides in reply to Sanary. "But yeah, same one the jackass was talking about. We're still trying to figure out where she is before he does. Presumably the answer might be hereabouts."<br><br>Then the Spider Queen turns up, in a decidedly non-arachnid appearance. Xiaomu does something that she RARELY does in response: she bows. Deeply. Doesn't go as far as kneeling, but a sign of respect is at least in order. "Paranoia and an excess of caution are an asset in their normal line of work, and to some extent in mine," the huli jing says. "And considering that one of Yunomi's enemies - and yours, as I'm given to understand - may be hunting her even here, I don't know that I blame them for anything except how close their fingers may be to the triggers."<br><br>Honestly, Yunomi has THIS many mortal human friends - including an adoptive father, of all things - and NONE of them know how to deal with youkai on their home ground? At least Ryxinel seems to know the first rule of paying a friendly visit to youkai: Don't act like you expect to become prey if you let your guard down. (At the same time, don't be careless.)<br><br>Not that Xiaomu's walking around unarmed: she has her staff (and its concealed sword), she has her handguns (holstered under her vest), but she doesn't LOOK like she expects things to dissolve into a general free-for-all. Same way you don't do the open carry thing when you're dropping by a friend's house for a casual unannounced visit, unless your friend is VERY comfortable with you sporting a 9mm at your belt.<br><br>At Chiisai's talk about birthdays, Xiaomu looks to the lantern with a faint smirk. "Well," she points out, "technically lanterns have a day they were made .... or you might start counting from the day you became more than just a mundane lantern," she suggests further. "But if you haven't been worrying about it this long, not a lot of point now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren answers the Spider Queen plainly: "Everywhere we go is dangerous. Enemies could strike at any moment. Not being ready gets you, and anyone you need to protect, killed."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...I don't think Yunomi is going to come do anything friendly right now, alas. It seems she's posessed by an evil force, or something, at the moment." he shakes his head sadly at the lantern.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Sanary furrows her brow as the yokai chatter about, listening closely and trying to parse out the details. A tanuki named Yunomi, apparently beloved by the people here and even enough to get the Union involved so much in defending her against... What? Something big enough to risk the safety of some people even Sanary knows outside of the Union, apparently! The healer's still missing quite a few details, but things are starting to make a little more sense now. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Turning to the Spider Queen, she raises her hands to show that she's not carrying the axe, although it's still quite obviously strapped across her hip. "Sorry, sorry. I take it everywhere I go, but don't worry. I got no plans to touch it as long as I'm here." As if trying to show that she's not here to fight, she even squats down on the spot! Sanary does give Stadler and his shoulders a brief look at that, but turns back to the lantern shortly afterwards. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But.. Er. Yeah, I don't think now's a good time for her to come back here. I mean, I know she's not going to... One other place, maybe 'cause she doesn't want whoever's after her to turn that place into a warzone." She nods at Xiaomu in turn, the logic of trying to find information on the missing tanuki not lost on her. "Sounds like this is an important place for her, so... Might be the same case here."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>It's a good thing Fujikuro isn't here. If there's one thing he hates, it's spiders. He'd be fleeing as fast as he could the moment that giant spider appeared. Of course, Iria would try to stop him, but would more than likely fail, because Fujikuro is... well, you get the general idea, right?<br><br>Iria doesn't show the least bit of fear at this spider, though. She's hunted things worse than it, and she's not about to assume it's an enemy just yet. Instead, she simply stands attentively, a neutral look on her face. As they talk to the spider, it appears that this spider does not mean any harm, so Iria waits patiently... a rare occurrence for Iria.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya seems to be on her way and it doesn't take long for her to end up falling in with the others at this point Rick being here is no shock. It's his daughter that's in ne hell of a mess one way or another. Richard was many things, an uncaring father? That was one thing he certainly was not. She was glad he was here and shenotes about the weapon she has across her back. <br><br> "Law and order isn't secure on my home world and I travel the multiverse a lot. I want to be ready to protect myself nothing more. I like not having to use it honestly. <br><br> She doesn't say a thing to blow RIck's coer as she moved to sit downa nd she took time to listen to Xiaomu for the moment. She's also trying to be respectful of things but Maya does not have the most experiance what she does have teh sense to do however seems to be trying to follow Xiaomu's lead and nods in agreement to the latern. "I think the idea to count from the day you were no longer a normal Latern works."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"POSSESSED?!" the latern squeaks. Chiisai seems shocked! Taikai equally alarmed. "What could have /caused/ such a thing?! Possession, against the guardian? Hrmm, very serious business indeed." the latern ghost's paper-thin voice croaks, and its lone eye waggles a bit at Staren. "What is your theory on it? You seem to be the smartest of the bunch, talking to us." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mhmm! Mmhmm!" Taikai gives a nod, and brightly replies "Because of course, /we/ know where Yunomi is! It's our business to know, after all." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O-Hiko pointedly looks at Richard, seeing as this human appears to be their leader, and she glances in a quiet expression up in Estano's direction -- because of course, she knows what her children see, and she turns, and in turn gives a small bow to Xiaomu and Sanary, and a slightly deeper one to her 'host' in Ravnica, Ryxinel. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am aware that Ijiwaru, this very moment, is searching for our home here. It is foremost that I protect the others." O-Hiko states quietly: "In a proper guardian's absence, it appears to fall to me to pick up where the former left off -- but here we are crowded. My sentries report that the Gruul stalk closer, and not wanting to risk trouble between the guilds -- we have been... living tightly." O-Hiko explains, and motions with a slender hand, blood red nails cruely pointed, to the shanties and tents. "Temporarily, this is fine. Many older Yokai remember the wars. Some of the younger, though... they are finding it..." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"OKAASAMA! LOOKIT ME!" Meeko cries out, and she's being whisked about by one of the children with no faces, waving her legs in the air. The body language of the faceless child seems to indicate they're not comfortable with the situation. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"-- ... trying."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Corona is served a big, steaming bowl of noodles and vegetables, shaved meat floating on the top, fresh green onions stirred in just before service. There is a little spoon and a large pair of chopsticks for her use. Just before she can dig in, a wizened little man cracks a very small brown egg over the bowl, and the egg folds in on itself as it cooks in the boiling hot liquid.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Xiaomu has to work HARD at it, but she manages - just barely - to suppress the impulse to roll her eyes at Staren. Possessing is something that spirits do to *humans*, and as a tanuki, Yunomi is hardly mortal enough to worry about getting possessed. Generally speaking, at least. There could be exceptions - there are some beings which can subjugage youkai to their will too, after all.<br><br>But then again, Chiisai takes the mention of 'possession' seriously. So maybe Xiaomu ought to follow suit. It certainly helps keep her from rolling her eyes.<br><br>"The magic-eaters are your ancient enemies, aren't they?" Xiaomu asks as O-Hiko brings up Ijiwaru. "I hate that you've been forced into hiding like this, in tight spaces no mortal or youkai should have to endure. Perhaps, if you do not know where to find Yunomi, you might help us prepare to fight against Ijiwaru and his ilk."<br><br>*Now* Xiaomu gets down on one knee, thumping the butt of her staff against her ground so that the rings let out a loud jingle. "I am Xiaomu, huli jing, pledged to the service of an agency called Shinra," the sage fox introduces herself formally. "It is my privilege and honor to meet you, O-Hiko, queen among the spiders. If I may be of assistance to you without breaking my pledges to others, ask what you would need of me, and I shall do what lies within my power."<br><br>She looks up from genuflecting, then rises smoothly back to her feet if it seems appropriate to do so. "What the magic-eaters and their ancestors stooped to ... preventing those kinds of excesses is the greater part of Shinra's goal in the Japan where I make my home," Xiaomu continues. "While youkai in my world still conceal their true natures, Shinra makes its goal to prevent human or youkai from coming into conflict, and even now, there are youkai who wish to tear down the society that the humans of Japan have built. To intercede and end a similar conflict, even from a world far from my own, seems to be part of my promises to Shinra, in spirit if not in word."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Thank goodness there's a spoon, because Corona has no idea how to use the chopsticks. Expect maybe to spear veggies in the broth, but she's pretty sure that's not the right way. She plops some money on the counter and takes the bowl in her hand, and the spoon in the other. That's pretty hot if the egg cooked right then and there. But she's accustomed to eating hot things. So twirls the spoon a few times to get a bit of everything of noodles and meat and veggies on it before scooping it into her mouth. "MmmMmm. Though Ah don't reconize all the fixins..."<br><br>Corona looks down at the bowl for a moment. It occurs to her that they didn't see any sort of 'livestock' on the way down. The girl over there with the cow tail definately doesn't count.<br><br>She starts getting another spoonful even as she looks back up to the nekomata waitress. "What kinda meat did ya say this is?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks, surprised that the lantern and umbrella are taking him seriously. "Well... I think that someone killed the guardian spirit in Namamura... so when Yunomi tried to pull the guardian spirit through to Ravnica, something /else/ hitched a ride instead, and posessed Yunomi. I'm not sure what, though... I don't really know much about Namamura... except that the afterlife is a terrible place. If any spirit escaped from there, they'd probably be mad with anger and hatred for the world."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Upon seeing Xiaomu kneel down and introduce herself, Iria does the same as well. "I am Iria, bounty hunter 9979-5. It's an honor to meet you as well, O-Hiko." She speaks with respect to this spider queen, without thinking it strange in the least bit. Still, there is a hint of uneasiness within her, as if something doesn't feel right about her speaking with a giant spider.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br>Rebound probably blends in well enough herself, as she follows Corona up to the food vendor, "You know that's probably, uh.." She shrugs, "You know who knows what it is. But it's not steak, that's for sure." <br><br>She looks back over her shoulder at the situation going on behind her, all the noise and stuff, "These people are just innocents in all of this, forced to live underground because of that asshole Ijiwaru. I shoulda just punched him in the damn face when I had the chance."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Oh, right. Bowing. Hopping onto her feet and nearly toppling over in her haste, Sanary somehow manages to return O-Hiko's bow with a formal one of her own. Just because she came from the countryside doesn't mean she hasn't learned proper manners over the years! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why would that guy be looking for this place? From what I heard, didn't he already cause enough dam...?" The healer scowls a bit before taking a breath to calm herself, an irritated grumble escaping her throat before she crosses her arms. "... Typical... Ech." Another grunt, and the healer straightens up to give O-Hiko a practiced salute. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sanary Rondel, healer and captain for the Confederacy. Pleased to meet you..." She pauses, taking a cue off of Xiaomu's introduction. "... Queen O-Hiko. Can't promise the Confederacy's assistance in this mess, but... If that Ijiwaru comes around to cause trouble, let me know. People like him piss me off, so..." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The healer hesitates for a few moments as she glances around at the Unionites gathered around, then turns to them properly and holds a hand out to nobody in particular. "... I won't get in your way if you don't shoot me in the back. Deal?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If the Gruul are breaching the border, it is very much a situation we need to address. I'll see about getting some weirds down here, if it won't bother the folk here. The Izzet feel it is very much our responsibility to take care of anyone from Namamura that was displaced due to Gohan's influence, so, if there is anything we can do, we will do it. In regards to Ijiwaru, well, he's probably about to try and have our whole guild dissolved. I'm fairly certain it won't work.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Stadler gives O-Hiko a bit of a look through his mask to her. He doesn't need a bow; really, he was expecting a more narrowed glance to himself and Estano up on his perch, so he'll /take/ pointed. "I don't like the sound of any of that. Esspecially things in the night stalking closer. I assume a miltia or a Search and Destroy team is out of the question, but I'd be glad to sweep some of your main routs once our job here is done." He says, following the Spider being taken away by children at... play? And really, that little spider was making the best of it. "As for Ijiwaru... To be honest, that's part of why I'm here. If any of you have seen him, or his people, let me know. And I'll see if I can't lessen some pressure."<br><br>The way his hand tightens on the grip of the HK416 hanging in front of his tactical vest shows what he means when he wants to lessen pressure.<br><br> Stadler looks over to Staren, for one moment, talking to the latern and mentioning things about how Yunomi was possessed. "I doubt she was possessed." He says to the small group. "Doesn't seem like her style from what we've learned. She has a plan, and to my increasing frusturation, I can't see what it is." One can hear it in his voice, before he stares at the latern. "Oh, do you. Where, then?" In a deadpan that shows he doesn't beleive much of it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya listens to hear topic of Poession and Yunomi her rebinding Yu and the rest may have been Yunomi stuggling against such control to save them. She looks to the Latern for a moment and nhumms and she looks back to Taikai for a moment then settles in for listening to what o-kiko has to say. Then Meeko burst sin so to speak as she waves he legs in the air and just tries to not laugh which she's able to do she knows they have to focus on the situation. Staren just has no reaction from Maya will place anorder too of the food she has some anti toxin herbs if something doesn't agree with her right? <br><br> "It's not right you have been forced to hide like this. Your people do not deserve this either." She pauses at Xiaomu and does omething as well. <br><br> "I wish to offer myself to aid your people int his time of crisis O-Hiko. So long as it does not interfear with any oaths of service I currently hold." While Maya doesn't know /everything/ she is following Xiaomus lead and does kneel. It's very rare for Maya to kneel very rare and Rick might notice that.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>And Sanary gets a look from Stadler, as well. "Don't act stupid, and I won't spend bullets trying to correct it." He says simply.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hrmm... yess. the afterlife. Very terrible. Whoever is in charge of it should be ashamed of themselves. Very shameful. Very nasty. No one likes nasty afterlives." Chiisai agrees quite seriously with Staren, nodding his fat head. Takai's eye rolls in his canopy, which half-flaps. "Though what could have hitched a ride? ooh! You don't think it's a yurei, do you? Oooh! LIke the girl in the well in that documentary! What was it called? 'The Girl in the Well Who Haunted People to Death', I think." the umbrella recalls.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chiisai looks up at Richard. He blinks his eye. And then he hops! "OOH! OOH! I KNOW THE ANSWER! Has anyone checked in the cupboard, that blue one? With the vending machines that move around!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O-Hiko gives a small smile. "My people are used to hiding; the Yokai have never been so out in the open as they were before the wars, when there were more... apparent issues." the spider queen replies, and shakes her head, drawing her hands upwards. "Please, here I am simply a very busy mother, no queen. Not royalty. My titles were for a battle fought many, many years ago." she almost blushes, and she draws herself up a bit, and as the faceless boy rushes past, a hand reaches out and draws Meeko up and off him, and the little spider flits about over her mother'ss arm a moment, before settling at her shoulder. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;People continue to mill around, there's some cross words grunted at each other as a pair of kappa fight for water. A woman's head with a long, long, looong neck snaking behind her appears to poke over all of the armed mercenaries' forms. A figure in a brown hood, stooped over draws awayf rom the grouping, shifting weight with a sack under one arm.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. We found some loosened, floating animals off one of the markets when we foraged. It's very fresh, very light tasting!" the little wizened man replies to Corona, and beside her, a man whose eyes are far, far too big for his face and whose mouth hangs open like a fish taps his chopsticks, lifts his bowl, uses his chopsticks to pull his bottom lip out and pourl the bowl -- contents, noodles, broth, bowl, and spoon -- into his lip. It stretches like a pelican's.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Corona Arclite pauses in lifting another spoonful to her mouth. "Just.. random animals?"<br><br>Looks down at the bowl of noodles and veggies in broth with.. mystery meats. "Mystery meat ramen..." The people down here are rather out of the way of easy supplies other than scavanging, though... Then again, Corona remembers what it feels like having to just scrounge whatever you can living off the streets.<br><br>Corona stuffs the spoonful into her mouth even as she turns away from the stand to return to the rest of the group. "Still the best damn ramen Ah've tasted in a long time."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"True, of course, O-Hiko, but even in hiding, you can be comfortable. If you would like us to try and expand the area, just so you have some more space, we can at least try. Better security, more access to whatever you need, just ask," Ryxinel offers once again. A light sigh, then he starts to look around, just forming ideas in his head, visualizing things that could be built. His gaze settles on someone rushing along, head tilting a moment, before the gaze moves on. Back to O-Hiko, then. "Have you heard anything, then? Maybe a place to look or information overlooked? I realize the chance is slim, but there is no reason not to ask. Rhapsody insists to search even in vain, if needed, so since I am here, I may as well ask."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren blinks. "Really? I thought... you were all happy with the afterlife. I mean... Yunomi doesn't think it should be changed..." His ears splay a bit at that sad thought. "...Wait, 'The Ring' was a documentary in your world?" He'll take some ramen too. As long as the mystery meat is tasty, right? "So... is that a thing that happens? If it /was/ a ghost, how do we exorcise it?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>"'Mother' is no less a title than 'queen,'" Xiaomu points out respectfully. "Titles notwithstanding, though, the ancient war threatens to return in the present day, and I would not see you, nor any of your people, nor Yunomi herself fall victim to misguided mortal bloodthirst." Her ears flatten against her hair, her expression going from 'serious' to 'somber'. "We have to stop the magic-eaters. If their lives can be spared, all the better, I suppose ... but they may not permit us that option. And Yunomi's friends are dead-set upon helping her however they can.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Iria simply stands by idly as Xiaomu does the talking, since Iria's more about action than words. She doesn't want to risk saying the wrong thing and getting everyone in trouble. It's quite a contrast from the normal Iria, who's usually all about action and excitement. But when it comes to Yunomi, it seems Iria's willing to adapt herself as necessary.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya says "Just because you must hide does not mean you should live in misery O-hiko." Maya notes. "We didn't have much when I was ... young but it wans't a bad life for the most part even iof we lived in anotehr people's shadow." She now lleans back. She pauses "The ring waqs a documentary in your world?!" She's got no issue about the food and she now goes quiet to think. "I admit I don't take well to predaction Xiaomu but I'll respet your wishes regarding them. Still Yuomi's life and any bystanders comes before theirs."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Eventually lowering her hand, Sanary lets out a light sigh before turning to STadler with... A grin? "Could say the same to you. Good enough for me." She chuckles lightly in approval, then turns back to O-hiko and watches her curiously as she handles Meeko. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Still... These kids deserve better. Hiding out like this..." She trails off and hums to herself for a moment, then steps forward and peers at the spider-child with a smile that's only slightly awkward. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So many eyes. "We're gonna take care of this, alright? Just sit tight and be good for your mom, huh?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Looked enough like beef." the man shrugs at Corona, and goes back to chopping. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What? Oh! OH no, we don't have movies. Our Japan is still in the Fuedal Era, even the United States is still at war and these two huge giants called Jefferson and Abraham are battling over a boat in the atlantic and they shoot great balls of steel and light fire out of their eyes and lightning from their--" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Chiisai!" Takai interrupts, "He is probably American, and from the future, he knows all about Giant Abraham Lincoln and his horde of zombie vampires named Roosevelt!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The little old man at the counter looks at Chiisai and Takai... and then gives Staren not only a bowl of ramen, but pours a little cup of sake for the cat-boy. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O-Hiko gives a small smile at Ryxinel, and gives a nod of her head. "I still hope the situation will be temporary, and that all of us may return to what we have called nor mal since leaving Namamura." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Estano is not alone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"As for your question, Ryxinel -- I cannot think of a place that my children have not checked for her presence. It deeply saddens me that she continues to hide from all who would see her restored." O-Hiko adds quietly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br>Well, she supposes it looks okay. Rebound takes the chopsticks and then snatches up some of the noodles from Corona's bowl, "I suppose as long as strange alien meat and veggies doesn't make you sick." She says, with a bit of a laugh, "You'll be good to go. Plus if it does, now we can be sick together."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Stadler gives Chiisai a look. A long, unblinking stare, for just a few seconds longer than is comfortable, before nodding. "Well, I'm sold. Why don't you go check and see if she's there. You find her, tell her her father loves her." Hey, why not hedge your best on the off chance they knew what they were talking about! And Stadler, again, had enough self control to stay still and simply regard the head as it worked all over their forms, giving the barest of nods at it, before pointedly looking in other places. If they were curious, let them look. If they got dangerous, so would he. Though... The man with the hood, he gets another look. &lt;Estano, brown hood. Track him from stationary. Let me know where he goes." He says. That's all, as he turns to the Spider Queen. "Members of the community can stand up in times of trouble, you know. Whatever your title was then, it is what it is now. Do what you can for however long you can, and then pass it on to someone else."<br><br>Then /back/ to Chiisai... and steeps forward. "Are you implying that President Abrham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator and saviour of our great Union, would embark upon unholy magics to raise a horde of vampire zombies? And if they did, he could base them on Theodore Roosevelt? The /Rough Rider/ himself?" His tone is silightly omnious, though most here could probably see he needed to blow off a /bit/ of steam, and this seems to be a decent way to do it.<br><br>Estano nods tothe order himself, tasking his people to the edge of the roof they were on, attempting to follow... before pausing for a moment. He doesn't speak on the radio, doesn't talk. Just lets a gloved hand drift down to the M1911 holstered at his hip, removing the holster snap slowly, cocking the hammer.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Corona Arclite shrugs a shoulder in response to Rebound. Only one, as she doesn't want to disrupt the bowl in her hand. "Ah'm part fennec. We eat all kindsa bugs and lizards and other small desert critters." ... It's really hard to tell if that's a serious answer or not. Well, the part fennec part is. Her father was basically a anthro space fennec fox. Part of the reason she's kind of short.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the answer, Ryxinel still offers a smile, "Had to ask, just to be sure, O-Hiko. Thank you," he offers, going back to visualization of the area. A glance is sent over toward Corona and Rebound, then the ramen bowl. "The local fare? Good, is it?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren listens curiously. He wonders how much of that is misunderstandings and how much is just the world being different. "America's not a country anymore in my time. I'm from one of the further-ahead futures. I'm from the Free City of Lazlo. It's built on the site of Toronto, Canada, if you're curious." He takes a couple bites of his ramen. "Seriously, what do we do if she /is/ posessed by a ghost? I have no diea how ghosts work on your world. Or mine, for that matter."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chiisai looks up at Richard Stadler. And then his eye goes wiiiide. So wide that his other eye opens slightly and then he gives a hearty nod! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he shakes his head. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, no, the one with the mechanical legs whose main attack is NNUUUUUUUU DEEAAAARRUUUU!" the latern ghost says, and gives a very affirmitive nod. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nope, not Teddy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Xiaomu just blinks a few times at the discussion of Lincoln fighting Roosevelt, or whatever was going on. "Okay, I think your world's history is officially weirder than my world's history," the sage fox says with a wry grin. The 'NUUUUU DEAAAAAARRRUUU' part almost makes her crack up laughing.<br><br>But the sage fox gathers herself again, nodding to O-Hiko. "As I said, whatever I can do to help with that. Best if you all could return to Namamura ... I doubt that Yunomi was possessed," she admits, "but from what I know of the situation, it doesn't make sense that she would do what she's been accused of out of her own free will. So if nothing is compelling her, the next most likely explanation is that except perhaps for what reliable witnesses who trust their senses *saw* Yunomi doing ... it must not have been Yunomi who committed the deeds she's been blamed for, that *haven't* been directly witnessed."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya comments on the matter of meat "So long as it wasn't a person? Meat is meat." She notes then leans back a bit and can't help but smile as they talk about America, the picture that is being painted about America it's a bit of lightness she needed but it doens't last long. "You mean someone weaved a powerful illusion is what your thinking Xiaomu?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THe figure in brown seems to pause. IT glances behind, away, over a shoulder, a little bit of dark brown hair slipping from beneath the hood. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The dark brown briefly turns to an Izzet Scarlet. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then the figure passes behind a wide support pillar -- and is gone from the sniper's sight.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-- just as the back of Estano's body might pick up the heat of a sudden fireball. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, is this where she's been hiding all the /fun/ people?" comes a slithering voice, and above, on Estano's perch, a brilliant light illuminates the Spider's Den and Shantytown, blinding white followed by orange-red! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And mad laughter echoes. "ALL HAIL THE DRAGON'S FIRE!" cackles an unhinged laughter.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It figures that while Ryxinel is visualizing things, the massive light basically blinds the red dragon. It was like looking into the sun! "AGH!" he staggers, he shields his eyes, but he also hears what is said, and what the radio blurts out, "No no no.." he fumbles for his radio, and then blurts out, "I need Petra-Hydrox deployed down here! NOW!" It would still be a few minutes, but the air-earth elementals would be the best things to try and keep everything from collapsing. "And a rapid construction team as soon as possible!" He adds, realizing the supports would need reinforced, "AND DRAGONAUGHTS!" to get whoever was responsible!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Xiaomu's ears prick up even before she consciously notices the sounds of trouble starting up ... and when the slithering voice, followed by the mad laughter, break out?<br><br>Oh, it is so TOTALLY on.<br><br>The rings on Xiaomu's staff jangle as she slams its butt on the ground hard enough to *embed* the staff an inch or so into the rock - just enough to keep it standing upright while she needs her hands for something else. The jangling hasn't even faded when she reaches into her vest, drawing out a pair of handguns, one ready in each hand, safeties already clicking off as she draws a bead on the source of the laughter.<br><br>And then she actually opens fire, a hail of bullets - standard ammunition, no magic or even particular anti-spirit effects - racing towards the maniac with the fireballs. Or are those just pyrotechnic shotgun rounds? Well, either way, he's about to have too many holes in him to keep laughing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>"..."<br><br>Corona takes a moment to lick some remaining broth from the bowl before tossing it aside with a surprising amount of calmness. "Knew this was going way too quietly," she remarks towards Rebound, before yanking her goggles up into place and sprinting off towards where the fires went off higher up. One hand drops to her tool belt...<br><br>But instead of a weapon drawn she yanks up her Matter Manipulator. Though she does give it a fancy gunslinger twirl just the same before pointing and activating it, the horseshoe-like shape clicking open and starting to flicker subspacial energy.<br><br>"Don't worry 'bout construction, just get after whoever did that!" The engineer must of been thinking the same lines of reinforcing as Ryxinel, as she generates several stone blocks from the device's inventory and stacking them up into extra pillars of support under the upper level.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>The people watch the figure move around, one of the troopers spying the brown hooded figure through the glass of a scope, just to see that different hair collor. "SarMajor, I think-" He calls out, turning... but not able to report before everyone's turning to the feeling of heat and flames behind him. His eyes shut tight as he whirls around, tracking where he though the voice was coming from, pulling the trigger on the .45 pistol again and again, seven times to empty the clip, as the rest of his team spray the area behind them with gunfire fire. And this isn't something lost on Stadler.<br><br>As the fireball goes off, Stadler's people on the ground seem to go with an automatic reaction, hitting the deck and covering their eyes, rolling toward where they saw cover. "Targets!" He yells into the radio. "Find me targets! Do /not/ engage with explosive or incendaries!" He yells out, managing to take a position behind a pillar and point his weapon up toward the roof. He didn't have a target yet, and he wouldn't unless Estano was able to draw him off of that rooof.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br>Trouble's here, and Iria's on high alert. In fact, when she hears that strange voice and then the laughter, Iria's really in her worst mood now. It's obvious someone laughing like that while talking like that is here to cause trouble. Xiaomu isn't going to bother with warning shots and neither is Iria. She draws her assault rifle and aims in the direction that Xiaomu is aiming and fires off several bursts of gunfire. "You're gonna regret messing with the best!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Straightening back up, Sanary looks up at the sudden outburst of someone... Laughing? It's not the friendly sort of laughter, that's for sure, but with the sound of the explosion rocking the air, sit's not hard to figure out that defenses are needed sooner rather than later. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Watch your heads! Get the kids inside!" She shouts in warning, looking over at O-Hiko and Meeko before focusing her energies outwards. Large bricks of gray... Something or another made of magical energy and looking not unlike distorted plastic start to form in the air, slowly gathering into a makeshift wall as Sanary starts glancing around rapidly to see where the maniacal mage might be targetting his attacks next. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, trying to figure out who the kids in this place even are. Sanary's not used to identify yokai ages by appearance alone, but at least she can provide them with cover in the form of a magical brick wall!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya is not going to get to enjoy her food right now but that's not so imporant anymore. The entire house may be comming down here She can't do the sort of barrier work that somecan but she can do some warding to protect people more. She will channel blue fire from her body she'll try to ward the people she can but she's going to not delay for long they need to find who did this or find a way to keep it from /going down/. She has an idea but it would be final resort if she had to summon Humbraba the elemental lord of earth...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yu and Mi tumble out of Ryxinnel's bag, and hit the floor running, each holding onto their sister's hand as they go through the flotsam and Jetsam of falling rock and trampling feet. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You saw, right?" Yu asks, and Mi huffs <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Don't say anything and keep running!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two disappear into the crowds. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Below the fire, a pillar rises from the ground, spreading out thick, oaken boughs in order to support the burning platform -- atl east temporarily. Plenty of limbs to climb down, almost as if someone custom-grew that tree right there, its greenery shuddering slightly beneath the weight. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are screaming yokai. Bellowing yokai. Yokai who are cowering away from yet another threat to their lives -- and they all begin to run. They all begin to flee as more combatants show up in the form of brown-cloaked mages, unguilded -- Guildless -- who begin to sling spells not at the Yokai -- but some at each other as well. A fireball. AN ice ball. A counterspell that causes a bolt of lightning to fizzle out as it arcs overhead! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pandemonium!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And up above, the mage hwose fireball had engulfed the sniper's platform was laughing, a sheild had gone up -- but not quite fast enough. He's been shot. His head is half shaved, the other half shaggy and long, matted and caked with dirt. He has one eye. He has scars covering his torso, and he stumbles backwards, giving a toothless, croaking laugh. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, oh, you're fun ones, aincha? You're fun to play with. You got tech that bites." he grins, and he reaches out, his hand crackling with fire again. "I've got fire that bites. Wanna see a bite, prettyboy?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> More attackers?! Gritting her teeth, Sanary's quickly regretting not bringing her usual shields along as she's forced to split those brick piles around, scattering them around to try and intercept at least some of those spells being slung at the Yokai. She can't get all of them on her own, but she can at least hope that between her own and Maya's efforts, they can at least mitigate some of the immediate harm to a good number of the Yokai. But with so many Yokai scattering and running everywhere, it'd be too hard to keep defending them like this for long! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unless... "Gather around me, yokai! We'll keep you covered, so stick close!" Sanary shouts, trying to get both the screaming yokai's attention as well as Maya's while redoubling her efforts on generating and maneuvering those makeshift magic brick shields. She just has to hope they actually cooperate quickly enough before her reserves are drained.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br>"Sigh." Rebound actually says it, not just making the sound. She was kind of hoping they could just get through the night without anything crazy. But she's wrong. Whatever is attacking, she's not sure yet, but it's something she'll have to deal with.<br><br>Hopping down from where the food shack was, she looks up at where the fire wielding creature is, "Who the hell is this guy?" She asks. Oh well, no big deal who he is. She plants her feet and leaps up, intending to plant herself between that attacker and everyone else, "Hey, jackass!" She points one of her fingers at him, "You just show up here, start blowing shit up, no regard for anybody. Well now you've gotta deal with me."<br><br>She's not going to do much to give him a chance to respond, as she drives forward to kick one of her feet at the fireball flinging foe. Doesn't matter to her who he is, she's going to plant him like crops in the spring.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren just wants to know how to exorcise Yunomi! But instead...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"See, THIS is why we carry weapons everywhere!" He tries to find some cover, activating his protoabstractum armor for some amount of protection. Plates and crystals cover his body. From his bag, coconut-sized camera drones and smaller, insectlike drones take to the sky, or what passes for it here, scanning for targets.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except... He can't use missiles right now when the shelf is in danger of collapsing. "Rrrrrgh... Why can't they all JUST DIE?!" His support AI tags any mages that attack his allies or the youkai, and Staren engages in cover shooting. The drones let him know where he'll need to aim before they can see him, at least, and his double-barreled laser pistol is nothing to sneeze at. "The future is better off without you! Get out of my light cone!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once called, the Petrahydrox show up faster than anything else the Izzet could send out. The elementals are hard to see except for the rocks that are trapped in the swirling vortexes that make up their bodies. They move -very- quickly to collect any loose material they can, and then surge to support any platform they feel need more support. They do this by expelling most of their air, form pillars, and basically do all they can. <br><br>The Dragonaughts come flying in next. Magwrights and even a few goblins surging through the air on crackling electrified wings that somewhat resemble dragonswings. They -are- spellslingers, however. A pair break off to head for the one hurling fireballs while the rest move to hold off the Guildless. At least one projects their voice, magically. "THIS IS IZZET TERRITORY. THE GUILDLESS WILL DISPERSE OR BE REMOVED FORCEFULLY!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, in the Namamura district, a familiar soldier just kicked down the door outward from her home again and is -running- for O-Hiko's domain.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh hey, loose chunks of concrete and pipe. Staren pulls stored animation spells from his bag and sends a half-dozen rubble golems out to attack as well!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Wait, mages? Actual Ravnican mages are here too? Not just magic-eaters? Xiaomu shakes her head briefly, finishes emptying her clips at the Guildless, then grabs her staff and -<br><br>"<span class="bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc">XIAOMU BLIZZARD!!!</span>"<br><br>- goes sledding.<br><br>More accurately, she conjures a big, fairly smooth-bottomed block of ice, plants her feet on it, and uses the same magic that conjured the ice to go skidding along the ground. She's building the ice up to make a protective 'wall' along one side of her conjured ice platform, too - and she's gonna need it, because she's hurtling straight towards the Guildless. Xiaomu takes advantage of the protection and speed she's created for herself to reload her handguns - anti-spirit rounds this time: she may be fighting humans, but with any luck the anti-spirit rounds will carry an extra punch against the Ravnican mages. She cringes at an incoming fireball --<br><br>"HIGH SPEED XIAOMU!!!"<br><br>And just JUMPS off the ice-sledge before the fireball blows it into ice-water and snowcones, hurtling through the air and aiming to come down practically in the middle of the magi. She won't be there long, though: a speedy delivery of kicks, chops, sweeps, and close-range gunfire should do a number on the Guildless - probably not deadly, certainly not to ALL of them - and then she just runs the hell away, dispensing more bullets in her wake and grabbing her staff from where it landed.<br><br>She needs to hide behind something more durable than a tent while she sizes up the situation. She'd just as soon not depend on the already-abused architecture of the cavern for that.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>There's no time to really question who starts springing up trees and vines to help support the flaming upper levels, Corona is just going to be glad someone did. Doesn't help matters that now all the other no-guilds are showing up, and catching the Spider's Den in the crossfire.<br><br>"What do they think this is, a battlefield?!" Or at least they're trying to make it into one. "Buncha pissy son of a--" A chunk of something falling loose from the upper levels to the street bearby drawns her out momentarily.<br><br>"Just keep holdin' it up so folks can get down!" she shouts to the weirds comin' in to help support the supports, as well as whoever was conjuring up the greenery. The fox actually sprints for the broken section that fell, using it as a rampway to get up higher instead of disrupting the precarious supports they just got up by climbing on them. From the top of that she hops off and bounds across a rooftop edge to get back towards where the worst of the flames are roaring on the upper level.<br><br>The Manipulator is switched for the Terminal Viscosity, which Corona lock and loads a canister of flame suppressant into.<br><br>At the edge of the rooftop the nimble vixen jumps off, only to start parkouring across one of the larger lengths of pipe, while shooting her liguid projectile gun loaded with suppressant at the fires in an effort to get them doused before they burn through more infrastructure crashing down.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>On the ground level, Stadler and his team seek cover with the sudden blast of magic and destrictive forces swirling around them. And grimaces. No one was showing their face out here, and no party was acting out in the open. It was just mages that didn't belong to anyone... and who killing would cause more harm then good in terms of politics. "Cameras on." He says, flicking on a body camera at his vest. "Record everything, and let NSA go through it later. Go LTL." He says, letting his rifle hang on the sling, and popping a pistol gripped taser out from a holster. One of the mages is aimed at, and gets a cartiridge full of darts and wires. Similar shocks go out from the rest of his fire team, before they're reloading.<br><br>"LTL, he says." Estano mutters, as he sees this half shaved, crazed man in front of them. And he's reloading his pistol with another clip. Better to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission, as more .45 rounds fire forward. Potentially slamming aganist that shield as he yells. "The edge! Get to the edge!<br><br>The platform suddenly becomes more stable, but no one had seen whatever guardian angel had done it. Estano just knew his people had a few more seconds to get to the ground before the town collapsed around them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Things have fallen into madness, Sanary does help with more barrier work, this allows Maya to switch out what she's doiong herself ot better aid in the defnce to tyr and stop this madness from happening. The attacker is well in hand by her allies she's going to start working on more magic she starts moving cast a spell to curse and hopefuly weakne those people who are going mad on eachother like a form of riot control she's tryingto settle the guildess down before things become /even/ worse.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madness? <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THIS. IS. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... an oppertune moment. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those who feel magic may feel a strange, sucking senation. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And those who know what it feels like when Ijiwaru is nearby will recognize the gravity of his presence. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clad in tactical armor, the leader of the Magic-Eaters is taking the field, and he draws his sword. There's a hush that seems to follow him as he moves through the crowd, taking blows for mages and yokai alike, the sword absorbing lightning, fire, ice, splitting magic into particles of light as he goes, seeking to try and disrupt the fight. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- yes. He's helping.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More attackers! <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sanary plays shield, and Yokai gather around her, the faceless boy and one-eyed monk alike, reaching out and holding hands, afraid. The woman with the cow's tail and her child, her eyes wide as she wraps her arms around him. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then a very, very large section of wall picks itself up, grumbling, rumbling, and parks himself in front of Sanary, wheezing in Japanese: "I, too, shield." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The food shack was, indeed. It is a was, smooshed. The cat and the old man appear to be safe though, fleeing away with a bowl of ramen held over their heads! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No, they can't just die. These mages, these guildless, were caught up in their own turf battles against each other, though they seem... surprised when their spells fizzle out on the blade of a sword! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xiaomu conjurs her ice, and goes sledding along, hurdling twoards the Guidleess and -- goodness gracious -- strikes a group of them, they go flying with the sound of a bowling ball striking the pins followed by gunfire?! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What a day to be a Guidless. There is plenty of cover in the form of upturned chunks of concrete. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fires are beginning to die down! Corona's efforts are rewarded with fire control as the flames supress really, really well, in spite of the half-cocked halfbald. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Weirds arrive, extra mages. The figure in a brown robe slips among some f the ruins, pausing for just a moment before disappearing again, leaping into the fray. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More fires are supressed. The tree remains. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two little Kodama are trying their best, tending to the tree with hteir own little bits of magic, keeping it strong and re-enforcing creeking boughs as the weirds arrive to help, as more supports go up! Mi looks exhausted, her face yellowing again as Yu's bright rosepetal pink hair seems to dim.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Oh, there's a chunk of rubble big enough to use for cover. Xiaomu dives over it before hunkering down, then -<br><br>You know that sensation when you're inside a heated house and somebody opens a door to the cold outside and leaves it open? How heat just saps away from the whole house, leaking away to leave a chill that doesn't belong indoors?<br><br>That's kind of how it feels for Xiaomu when a magic-eater walks through in full magic-eating splendor, and the sage fox quickly reaches out from behind her cover, drawing a bead on Ijiwaru. The only thing that stops her from pulling the trigger right the hell *now* is that he's sort of ... trying to stop the Guildless from tossing more spells around?<br><br>She ducks back under cover, grabbing her staff again and setting up a warding circle. Normally she'd do that to try to contain another threat, but in this case, at this point, she turns it inside out and sets it up as a protective warding barrier - surrounding *herself* to keep that magic-eater from casually leeching HER magic away. He might still gnaw away at the barrier itself, but if so, she'll deal with that shortly.<br><br>For now, she's fiddling with her radio - and looking around to see if any other youkai need shelter.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>Izzet reinforcements start to pour in. It seems someone else insisted any non-fire weirds were to head down to assist against the Guildless. Dragonaughts continue to strafe and counterspell the guildless as needed. Ryxinel starts to gain his eyesight back and begins to move in the direction that he saw Yu and Mi going, desperate to find them. <br><br>And then one more person shows up. White hair, armored, former Boros, and looking -truly pissed off- about what is taking place. "I think someone forgot to gimme my invitation!" she yells before marching right into the foray. Her sword is drawn, she leaps, she jams it into the ground in the midst of them all, and then it lives up to its name, sending out a shock to those near her, and it. Not to kill, but to incapacitate. Its during this that she spots A CERTAIN SOMEONE and her gaze somehow turns even more angry, then steadies. "HEY! Yer actually helpin' these things? I thought you didn't like'm!" No one else was going to ask why.. not nicely at least.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Corona Arclite pauses for a moment to perch on a stable piece of structure so she can eject the empty canister and load a new one. In doing so she catchs sight of a certain someone wading into the fight soaking up the magic being slung about as a means of dispelling it. Ugh, showing up at times that would be convenient to him in some way seems to be an Ijiwaru trademark.<br><br>From her perch Corona could switch to one of her long-range weapons and easily snipe a shot at him and move before anyone could notice she had stopped to do so...<br><br>... But as much as she didn't trust him, or didn't doubt he was still somehow tied to these things... he apparently helping...<br><br>And doing so would draw her effort away from the stopping the fires from destroying what town these misplaced folks had.<br><br>And because she also notices the tiny spirits starting to faulter despite their efforts.<br><br>Priorities win out. Helping allies comes before smacking jerks she has very little patience for.<br><br>With her weapon reloaded Corona hops off her perch and resumes her spray-n-dash effort, though in doing so starts maneuvering back towards where Mi and Yu are. If nothing else so she can scoop the tiny faes out of harms way if they exhaust themselves.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> The good news: the Yokai are gathering! That's definitely going to make things easier for Sanary as far as not having to spread her self thin. <br><br>The bad news: Holy crap they're actually relying on her. That's definitely not going to put any pressure on the healer to perform or anything like that as new bricks move in to replace others that are blown apart by spells flying around. Just how long is this going to keep going? She squints a bit at the armored figure of Ijimaru wading through the mages, luckily not recognizing him through appearance alone. Still, if he's stopping some of those attacks from doing damage, he's probably on their side. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then there's the big wall coming to help! "You're with me, then? Alright... Let's keep everyone safe, big guy!" Maneuvering those magic bricks around some more, the healer braces some of those magic bricks against the wall Yokai to create a makeshift house-like barrier for the yokai huddling nearby. Focusing even more energy outwards, Sanary even links herself with the wall Yokai with a bright green light beam to feed healing energy into him should the worst hit him. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We got ya. Just hold tight, okay?" Despite her bravado, however, the nearby Yokai might notice that Sanary's sweating and straining quite a lot just to keep the shield in place. She doesn't evennotice that her energy is getting drained in the process, apparently chalking it up to just fatigue. She's not going to pass out on them, is she?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I--" Ijiwaru blocks, a blow with his sword. The edge glows an angry red "told you all..." he whips around, crossing weapons with another, kicking them away -- <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I was willing to /live and let live/." he growls, and he pants the tip of his sword down, concentrating and with a swipe of his hand, there's an explosive force outwards, sending guildless mages flying backwards, out of the hole to the Gruul Clan territories. "Act now, you can all cynically call me names later!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and he continues on, sweeping through the battlefield absorbing magical attacks for others, even though his hands begin to sizzle as the weapon gets hot. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Halfbald's sheild holds up pretty well. He cackles evilly, and begins to charge lightning, his hand crackling as he raises it, drawing it to Estano. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Are you one of the outsider's favorites? Tell me, how shall I deliver you to her when she's captured? Oooh, such a hunt, such a hunt has never been seen! I will br ing GLORY to my clan again!" he cackles madly, in spite of the wounds covering him now. Red drips down his arm from one shot, rendering his left arm useless -- until he's kicked in the side by the kangaroo! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"AARUGH!" the lightning fizzled! "ACCURSED CREATURE! I'll have ye hard head for a teapot!" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and he flings a chakram at Rebound!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren doesn't know who the Guildless are. He assumes these mages are just yokai haters or something. Yokai haters who he will make EAT LASER. When the giant wall arrives, he uses the opportunity to manifest wings and fly closer, using it as cover. As he sees Halfbald turning to fight Rebound, he points and shouts, "You two! Stop him!" Two of the golems plod over, too slow to protect Rebound from the chakram, but trying to get in the way of further attacks, and grab and restrain the guy talking about putting Yunomi's head on a platter. He's actually talking, maybe he can explain why these mages are here!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Stadler's people are still attempting to take down whoever they can, but there was a steady influx of soldiers from around, both Elites and Rhapsody's troops. Estano's people hold their ground, attempting to take out that shield... or weaken it as much as they can. "You can burn in hell, you son of a bitch. That's what you can do. I'll /send/ you there, along with your fucking glory-" He says, before being cut off by a kicking Kangroo. Well, that was an oppurtunity. &lt;Things are getting bad, boss!&gt; Estano gets on the radio, reloading his pistol, and advancing again on the distracted mage, as Rick's people continued to tag people on the street with a dwindling stock of tasers.<br><br>And then, of course, there was Ijiwaru. Stadler knew he was there, see what he was doing. And not for a second, not for a /second/, did Stadler beleive this wasn't part of the plan. Some false flag to get into the refugees, both to gain moral credit, the high ground, enough to work in his own work. Just like he did before.<br><br>And it frusturated Rick that there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He wanted to look right at them. To shoot, snap necks, and /end/ them. But... He couldn't. Not now.<br><br>So he smiply gives Ijiwaru a disgusted nod, and works past him with his men, bypassing as pulls the pin on a tear gas grenade, tossing it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:'''<br>Maya's riot control attempts don't go well as Ijiwaru is while stopping the guildless? Her spells are going off so close tht it does little now. She's going to turn to focus on something else but she can't help supress a shudder given all life sapient or not has some level of magical energy on her world. So she turns her attentiont to casting barrier spells on those caught upin the madness once more and doesn't holdback. <br><br> Still she's more than a little scared Ijiwaru would likely wreck her in a fight given almost everything she does is magic but for now she keeps moving and casting spells to heal and protect.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br>"My head would make a terrible teapot!" Rebound replies, shifting one foot back as he moves to throw his weapon. Okay, bladed disk. She has dealt with stuff like this before, but she's way too close to dodge it. She brings both of her arms up in front of her, letting the gauntlets take the impact from the weapon. Corona is going to be pissed at her. But at least she's not hurt...Well okay, it does hurt, blood is dripping from the wound where the chakram is lodged into the gauntlets, "My turn." <br><br>She yanks the chakram out of her arm after wrenching her right arm free, and tosses it on the ground. Then she pushes off of her back foot and dives towards Halfbald, aiming to strike him with a solid blow from her right hand, and then come around with a blow from her left hand to his abdomen. Then of course, she'll swing around and kick him with one of those oversized kangaroo feet, trying to take him out with a powerful kick.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As quick as they had arrived, the mages seem to turn and flee, leaving behind the wounded -- and possibly the dying. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O-HIko herself appears to have caught several in her webs, where before there had been a woman, now there was only a massive spider, legs sp anning almost fifteen feet across, black leggs, yellow red and balck abdomen, ichor dripping from her fangs, three or four mages harmlessly bound in webbing, arms and lips pinned to their sides and shut. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt;A most unpleasent surprise.&gt;&gt; the spider chitters from her place on her webs. Her hundreds of children begin to surround her, creeping menicingly above the grouping, spiders ranging from one to eight feet across now around her. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Little Meeko limps to Stadler. One of her legs has been snapped in the fighting. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While Skara arrives to represent the Boros, Yu is helpimg Mi off the tree. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ryxinel!" Yu calls out, waving her hands. "Mi's... Mi's not doing so well." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mi is pale yellow, her skin dulled and the blue of her hair nearly gray. She's shaking. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It took more out of me than I thought..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Well, if nothing else, Ijiwaru at least SOUNDS serious about being on their side. Xiaomu's not about to shake hands with him, though - he might not need that sword to drain magic, and she doesn't want Reiji to have to avenge her or something.<br><br>That guy who's halfway bald seems like a much bigger worry at the moment. Xiaomu drops her barrier and leans out of cover, raining bullets on the freshly-kicked lightning-slinger - basically giving Rebound some cover fire that might turn out to be necessary - and quickly taking in the rest of the battlefield situation while she tries to end at least ONE threat.<br><br>Fortunately, that seems to be about the last of it. The Guildless are bailing out en masse, the Namamura youkai are sort of pulling themselves together; however, there are casualties - one of them an imminent fatality, it sounds like - and Xiaomu doesn't really have anything as reliable first aid for Mi.<br><br>Things could have been MUCH worse - but they're a far cry from optimal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Halfbald McLightning Fist, had given a laugh, and he had began to advance on Rebound when suddenly -- BOOM. One strike! <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CRACK! Strike two! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHUMP! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Strike three, and Halfbald is out -- and sent flying-- blood and spit (and what remains of some of his teeth) trailing behind him before he goes sliding into the dirt, giving a low groan... drawing upwards.. and then falling back down. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ijiwaru exhales. His hands are sizzling, but he slowly returns the swod to its saiya, before drawing upwards, hands and palms raw, and giving a stiff bow to O-Hiko -- and without so much as a word to anyone else (but he does cast a look to Skara, as if to question /her/), he goes to exit from the area. He'd already done what he'd set out to do -- why remain for their ridicule?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>As she had been heading back to their position Corona drops to the ground not long after Yu speaks up. "Reckon she looks paler than a polecat dipped in whiteout." She holsters her sprayer and kneels down to pick the Komadas up gently if allowed. "Com'n, lets get ya somewhere sheltered... An' that someone that actually knows magic can take a look at 'er."<br><br>She's too busy helping the weakened faes to bother slinging any sarcastic remarks at Ijiwaru's backside.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Ijiwaru's departure is noted by Xiaomu, and mentally filed as one more piece of provisionally-good news. At least he won't be making things worse.<br><br>For now, the sage fox sets about reloading her handguns, holstering them (safeties on, thank you), and getting back to her feet. Time to see if she can do any good, despite her lack of proper youkai first-aid supplies.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> The worst of the fighting is over! Sanary lets out a tired cheer that barely goes above her usual talking volume, then gives the wall Yokai a pat on the... The... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ... She's hoping it's high enough on his back. "Hoo... Ah... Good job, everyone! Let's.. Alright. Who..." She raises a hand and hunches over for a moment, taking a few deep breaths before straightening back up with a louder shout and a noticeably dimmer-looking eye. "Okay! Where's the injured? I still got energy to go around." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If it wasn't for the fact that Sanary's still somehow getting some healing light clouds moving around, it'd probably be easier to just call her a liar with how exhausted she looks. At least she's got enough strength to shuffle over towards Meeko and Stadler to try and get some of that healing energy into the tiny spider child. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Holler if you got someone in critical condition1 I.. Uh. Hoo boy... Gonna take me a bit to get around!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Estano looks over to Ijiwaru after the attack, peering down in dis belief. Weapons are grabbed, and Estano's team moved to the edge. &lt;Boss, I have the HVT in sight. Are we engaging?&gt; He days, rifle scopes moving up to play over the figure as it retreated.<br><br>Stadler's people form up just slightly, before he shakes his head. &lt;No. HVT is to leave unmolested. Form up on me, and we'll get out of here.&gt; He says. He had only the most cynical notions of why Ijiwaru did what he did... but that didn't change the fact that he had /done/ it. So he got to walk out of here without dodging gunfire. And it wasn't like this place needed another fight...<br><br>Admit the wails of the wounded and dead, Stadler looks down, and sees the limping Meeko, one of his limbs snapped. He presses his lips together, under the mask, thinning, before kneeling down, and placing his hand, back first aganist the ground. "Come on, now. Almost there. I'll take you back, okay?" He said. Meeko did remind him of Fleece if she was a spider and didn't have all those guns, and he could swallow instinctive fear for at least a few minutes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>Hearing Yu call out, the dragon zeroes in on the pair as Corona does the same. He gives the woman a pat on the shoulder, "Ask O-Hiko, no one better here to ask, I would guess," he suggests before slumping down under the tree. His vision wasn't 100 percent and he wasn't going to stumble around looking like a drunk infront of the Izzet as well as many of their allies. What he does begin to do is coordinate the weirds and other Izzet that have arrived in the area. "Stablize the area, and set up guard patrols." That said, the radio is set down, and the departing Ijiwaru is given a scowl. "Don't come down here again!" There is no need for an 'or else', its clearly evident what would happen if he did. <br><br>Skara just peers back at Ijiwaru, motions at the utter chaos, and gives a look that says, "Why me? Why YOU? before marching further in. "Well that was a right -mess-," the soldier mutters, emphasis given by Halfbald shitting the ground. "Oooh, what's all this..?" she muses before moving over to the man, drawing a blade, and pointing it at his neck. The blade crackles for a little emphasis, "What'sa little Gruul doin' in Izzet lands, eh? That's trespassin' and you know it.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We both chose to come here, Skara. It is fortunate that we cross paths on occasion." he states quietly, and he gives a pause, looking up at Ryxinel for a moment as he gives a curious look to him. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, yes, 'thank you, Ijiwaru, for putting yourself in danger even though we hate you on principle' 'no, no, you're welcome, I do try to protect the innocent.'" he states dryly. and he runs his hand over his hair, and goes to walk out the way he came in. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ingrates. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Halfbald is not shitting, but he is sitting up, looking dazed for a moment before he blinks, and then points. "That over there, is Gruul lands. This here is contested. I hunt. Bring glory to my clan, bring back right to hunt in better places." he states, and crosses his arms. "What better way to hunt than to use her favorite things as bait?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meeko is gingerly lifted, curling slightly into Stadler's hand before she shifts. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And in lieu of a spider, which may have caused some concern... there is now a young Japanese girl, eyes red from crying, holding a wounded, bleeding arm, wearing a bright pink kimono. Snot and tears run down her cheeks. "I didn't want to hurt them." she whispers, "I was trying to help." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yu and Mi are lifted up and recovered, Yu supporting Mi. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's okay, Mi, once we get back to the lab, you'll be able to relax and get better, just stay with me, okay?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>Skara shakes her head, "Nah, fella. You see, there's this lil' thing called a border. And it's inna very specific place. It is a line. There's nothin 'contested' in Ravnica, you can take it up with the Senate or the Legion, you can decide, though," she smirks, looks to Stadler, then looks back, "I'm thinkin I have a better idea. Ya sure the only reason ya came here was ta hunt? Ain't an easy place to get to, jes how'd ya find it, hmm?"<br><br>Ryxinel just stares at Ijiwaru, "Oh thank you, Mister Ijiwaru, for coming to help with a situation we didn't ask you for. Thanks for sayin you -eat- sentient creatures! We sure did need your help here! Just come every time we don't ask! Its so wonderful when you JUST DROP IN WHEN WE DON'T NEED YOU AND IT SERVES YOU BEST!" He was nearly roaring by the end, but once done he heaves a breath, sighs, and slumps against the tree again, "I hate that man.." a glance at Yu and Mi again, then to Corona. "You know where the Overgrown Lab is, right? We moved it into Thirix. Could you take them there? I'd ... rather not move further until I can see just one of everything.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''<br>Being in the proximity of that final roar, it's little surprise Corona's ears slick -all- the way back. Yeah, this is why you don't piss off dragons of any sort.<br><br>Even if she'd probably do the same, if she cared to even waste words on that man.<br><br>"Yeah, Ah saw where it was before." Corona nods a bit, and turns to head out. "Just keep her stable, Ah'll get ya up there lickity-split."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:'''<br>Xiaomu WAS walking over to try and help with triage or post-battle recovery.<br><br>Up until Halfbald runs his mouth about 'bait'.<br><br>Cue the sage fox turning around and stalking towards the Gruul, her staff thudding against the ground hard enough to jingle the rings which hang from its headpiece. "Never mind contested territory," Xiaomu snarls.<br><br>Jingle.<br><br>"Never mind your clan.<br><br>Jingle.<br><br>"Never mind your crap-assed sense of *GLORY*."<br><br>Jingle.<br><br>Xiaomu reaches down to grab the Gruul by the collar and haul him bodily to something vaguely resembling his feet, her eyes *burning* as she snaps, "THESE YOUKAI ARE NOT *BAIT*, YOU IDIOTIC FOOL OF A MORTAL MORON!!!" She flings him in the direction that he pointed out as Gruul lands - more of a spectacularly violent shove, truth be told, opening her hand when her arm is just hitting full extension.<br><br>"And they are not *things*," the furious sage fox adds, "any more than *you* are a 'thing,' as much as I'd love to call you an 'it'. Crawl back before your useless blood taints this ground any further, and expend your fetid brains on a strategy that might stand a feeble chance of actually working better without getting your dumb ass eaten alive."<br><br>Her grip on her staff is white-knuckled, and she looks ... well, if anyone besides the Gruul (or maybe Ijiwaru) could see her face? She looks as close to feral as she could *get* without reverting to her true vulpine form.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:'''<br>Well, that wasn't fair. For a moment, Stadler's holding a spider, and the next, a wounded, crying Japanese girl, and, of course, he can't help but think of Yunomi, and what she might be doing, what trouble /she/ might be in, reflected in this crying girl's face.<br><br>He swallows, unnoticable in the mask, and gingerly picks her up. "Hey, there. It's okay, all right? I know, you were trying to help. You did what needed to be done." He says, standing up from a kneel, looking around for O-Hiko. "You shouldn't be sad about that, okay? See, they're gone, and everything's going to be fixed. Let's find your mother and she can take care of you. Okay?"<br><br>Skara gets a look for a moment, and then a whisper to Estano. "Get him after their done. Nothing rough. Get the information you need." He says, before going off to find O-Hiko.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''<br>A little nod is given to Stadler when he realizes that the woman was handing the Gruul over to Stadler. She wasn't sure he -had- any information, but, it was worth looking into, right? Well, now that everythin's all done with, I think I'll take a walk around the area then head back home. Ya'all be careful, aight? Keep some patrols down here or somethin'. Heck, I may pull some strings and get the Wojek to get a few folks of theirs down here. It wouldn't hurt, and they'd probably keep outta sight.." that said, the soldier gives a bow toward O-Hiko, regardless of her current form, and then turns to slip out. Is it a trick of the light, or did some shadow dart out ahead of her as she turned to leave? Hard to say...<br><br>Ryxinel, meanwhile, notices the rapid construction team he called for coming down. He starts to climb back onto his feet and waves them down, and starts to suggest what needs done. Reinforcing the platforms, and possibly getting a few more nicities in for the Yokai. Anything they can do to make things less stressful for the spirits. That would probably go on the rest of the night.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The giant spider descends from her webbing, where the other guildless attackers are being roughly removed by some of her older children to be turned over to the Izzet, her long legs reaching out and with the utmost delicacy, taking the child from Stadler. "Thank you. I know you to be a parent as well..." the spider chitters, taking the small Meeko up and into the shadows of the web-warded ceiling. "Until we meet again, my friends. Should we see anything, we will send word post-haste." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Yokai within the shanty town are left wondering if there is a safe place in all of Ravnica for them, even as other spiders work to expand their webs and network, filling holes that had been snipped close to allow yokai better access. The yokai themselves nurse their wounds... though the little faceless boy wanders over to Ryxinel, and 'exmaines' everything he does with what looks like the utmost interest... minus...t he no face.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren wants to help the poor spider, but he has no idea if anything he has will even /work/ on yokai. He watches sadly as she's carried off, then turns to the halfbald. He's tempted to just kill him, but people seem to be sparing the man for some reason, and he doesn't want to just piss off his allies. He steps forward. "Remember this. Remember how we beat you, and know that we were /holding back/. If we /ever/ catch you or anyone else hurting these yokai again, we /won't/ hold back. The /only/ reason we're letting you go is so that we don't have to explain this all to one glory hound after another. Seek your glory elsewhere. If we see you here again, you're /dead/." He says it in as intimidating a growl as he can muster, with his laser pistol aimed at the halfbald's head for emphasis.<br> <br>
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